Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-02-17
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. l6.

| . SVnh"uica'ioh was received from the
STATE Librarian, transmitting his report for
the yesrs 1885 and 1886, which was refs,rsd
TO the Committee on Library.
The report of the Committee on LEGAL
Afairs,of leave to withdraw ON petition TOR
law TO prevent bribery and intimidation at
| elections, and the establishment of a score,
ballot, came from the House accented. and
on motion of MIR. Weymouth of York the
report and petition were referred 10 the Conn
mittee or the Judiciary.
Bill an act TO amend sec. Is, chan. 50 of
'he revised statutes. relating to the return of
marriages, passed TO be engrossed bv the
Senate. came back from the House amended.
On motion of Mr.. Lord, the Senate receded.
adopted the amendment, and again passed the
| bill to be engrossed.
MIR. libbey of Penobscot presented the
petitions of Frank Spratt ct ais. of Corinth
/ and Lyndon Oak AMI 81 others of Garland in
AID of petition in favor Of location of tho
Peno6scot Central railroad. which we're re-.
ferred to the Committee on Railroads, Tele.
graphs and Expresses.
Mr., Norcross of Franklin presented the
petition OF l.. NJ. Ames and so Others in favor
of the abolition of the school district system.
which was referred to the COMMITTEE on
| Education
MIR. Sargent, from the Committee on Finan.
c'si Affairs. reported reference to the next
legislature on order relating to the establish
ment of the Maine Womans Reform,torv
| Institution
MIR. Lumbert, from the Committee on the
Judiciary. on petition, reported bill an act To
incorporate the Boo,hbay Water Co. read
and assigned.
Mr.. Gilbert, from the Committee on Into.
rior Waters, reported in a new draft and
ought to pass on bill an act concerning boom.
age rights at Rumford in the county of or.
ford. On motion of Mr.. Gilbert the bill wa,
passed To be engrossed under suspension Of
the r1le.
Mr. simpson, from the Committee on In
dlan Affairs, on petition, reported resolve in
favor of Robert J. Talbot.
On motion of Mr.. Kendall of Freeport. bill
an act to authorize certain public improve.
ment' to be made in Back Cove and Fore
river of Portland iIarbor was taken nm and
the vote assigning it for u O'Clock TO-DAY re-
considered. The bill WAS then passed to be
engrossed.
The majority aud minority reports of the
Committee on Ways and Bridges in tho
matter of Pride's and Stroudwater bridge,
came up by special assignment at IL o'clock,
and on motion of MIR. Cole of Cumberland
they Sere again laid on the table and as
signed for tomorrow at IL o'clock.
Bill an act to abolish school districts was
s.
signed for Friday next at | | o'clock ,on motion
of Mr.. Lib5ey o: Penobscot.
Resolve IN favor of the Insane Hospital
came up by assignment the pending question
beng upon the amendment offered by the
Senator from Androscoggin (Mr. Steeper) to
increase the amount authorized for the new
building from S25, 900 to S34 900, the increase
being taken from the fund. of the institution.
Mr. Lumbert of Aroostook moved TO
amend the bill by striking out the S25, 900 for
anew building, explaining that this would still
leave S2l 900 for additions to the new chapel,
bakery and for increased accommodations for
attendants, etc. lie said il was the opinion
of DIR. Gerrlsh of Portland, one Of the best
medical authorities in the State, that there are
at present rs many inmates as should be Nm
"er one general management, and that if the
time ever came when more buildings were re-
qulred they should be az a separate institu-
ton The sum OF S25, 900 for a new build
ing wouldn't more than get up the walls. and
II was better not to enter upon such an ex-
penditure Mt this time.
Mr.. Sleeper of Andro.coggin recognized
the value of DR. Gerrish's opinion, but the
senator was simply begging the question.
The necessity for increased accommodations
already exists, and something must be done
immediately for the accommodation Of pa
tients already there and those to come.
Mr.. Lumbert understood that a large sum
OF money was received bv the institution for
board Of patients, and he desired some in
formation as to what was done with il, and
also whether or not it was expedient to use
some Of that fund for the needs of the institu-
ton.
Mr.. Sleeper explained that he had founI
but three appropriations by the State for
additions or alterations within the
last eleven years, and that the annual
sums paid by tho State were for the support
of State patients. At this time there are 22
private patients for whom the State pays moth
ing. Then there are 40 whose support 10
wholly by the State and 43l for whom it pays
Sl.50 per week. 1t was for these bills that
annual appropriations were made. During
the years he had mentioned the institution
: had, out of its earnings, expended in build
ing and In making repairs almost double the
amount which had been given them by the
State for similar purposes, and in addition to
this they paid their current expenses.
Mr.. Wallace of Washington agreed that
the amount called for was large, but the
question was whether it was too large. He
had made some personal investigation
and was satisfied that the hospital has
not the room it ought to have. The report
had been made by gentlemen who had con-
sidered all the points, and he felt satisfied
"
of money. There were institutions that
; could bear delay in the matter of appropria-
tions, but those created for the unfortunates
of the State must be provided for properly
and promptly.
Mr.. Lumbert thought the proposed en-
largements would give adequate accommoda-
tions until the next legislature, which could
take care of the matter of a new building IL
one were then required.
Mr. Sleeper replied. He did not UNDER
stand that this was to be entering wedge
for future appropriations, as had been intimat-
ed, but that 900 would complete the
whole building.
Mr.. Libbey Of Penobscot called attention to
the appropriation Of s48 900 for the current
expenses of the hospital which had passed
the Senate. and also to the SAG, 900 called for
by the resolve under discussion. Adding to
this the earnings of the hospital from board
of patients, and it seemed TO him the sum was
not small one. He was as much 10 favor
, Of the enlargement Of buildings necessary for
; the comfort and accommodation Of the insane
as any other senator; but he desired to know
the amount of the revenues OF the hospital
independent of the sums received from towns
and the State. He had been told 1t
, was quite large. If the amendment offered
by the Senator from Aroostook should be
adopted. then might not the sums realized 40
profits be properly used for the purposes de-
| aired He understood thar the rroA,s M